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Infant Massage
Through teaching parents infant massage, I share some tools and techniques that will help them to bond with and nurture their baby.
Touch is so crucial to infants that without it they fail to thrive and grow. Whether a baby is massaged or just held close and rocked,
that contact will not spoil the child in that first year as some people may fear. With a newborn baby, the massage focuses on uncoiling
the body, making him/her aware of his/her physical body and introducing him/her to gentle touch. As the baby grows, massage can release
the muscle tension that results from learning to crawl and walk, as well as release stress and frustration that comes from learning so many
new things. Massage is also excellent for mommy/daddy and me time, especially when parents have been apart from their baby or they have multiple
children and are trying to give each of them individual attention. For older children, massage can be a time to re-connect with them and learn
about their friends, schools, activities, etc. Massage time can relax your child and help them to open up as he/she will feel safe during this special time.
Benefits of Infant Massage
Performing massage has been proven to have both physiological and psychological benefits for the baby. The person giving the massage also benefits from the experience of infant massage.
For Baby (Psychological)
- Increases the sense of being loved and accepted, and helps baby learn to trust its parents
- Improves body awareness as the infant learns through touch how their body is constructed and where body parts are in relation to one another
- Teaches children appropriate touch and the option of refusing touch as they grow
- Increases self-esteem. Ashley Montague, an anthropologist, makes the assertion that a child’s self-esteem is increased based on a close relationship with its parents.
- Enhances Relaxation
For Baby (Physiological)
- Releases stress, which reduces the estimated 60-90% of illnesses attributed to stress
- Stimulates circulation, which improves oxygen and nutrient flow to the cells and enhances removal of toxins from the cells
- Strengthens digestion by stimulating the vagus nerve, which assists peristalsis (the moving of food through the digestive system)
- Strengthens the immune system by stimulating lymph flow and by increasing natural killer cells, which can positively impact children suffering from immune disorders or cancer
- Stimulates right/left brain development and coordination
- Deepens respiration, allowing asthmatic children to breathe easier
- Reduces discomfort from gas, colic, constipation, teething, chest congestion and sinus congestion
- Develops and improves muscle tone
- Improves sleep patterns, deepening sleep and sometimes contributing to longer periods of sleep
- Stimulates right/left brain development and coordination
- Helps develop coordination by encouraging mid-line orientation and using opposite limbs in rhythm.
For Parents
- Improves relaxation, reduces stress
- Increases parents’ skills by increasing confidence by giving them the tools to enhance their baby’s health and development and giving them methods to relax their baby when he/she becomes stressed.
- Provides quality bonding time for both parent and child
- Increases communication between baby and parent and allows parent to better read baby’s cries and vocalizations
- Makes for a calmer, happier baby, which makes for a calmer, happier family
- Increases parents’ awareness of their baby’s physical condition, so they are more in tune to any abnormal lumps or conditions they may not have felt otherwise
The Touch Research Institute in Florida has conducted extensive scientific
research into the impact of infant massage in a variety of conditions
including: premature births, cocaine-exposed infants, HIV babies, colicky
infants, pediatric cancer, neglected and abused children, autism, post-traumatic
stress, asthma, diabetes and juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. In every study,
measurable improvement was documented in areas such as weight gain, decrease
in fussiness, improvement in sleep patterns, normalization of brain chemical
levels, decrease in anxiety, decrease in depression and improved motor
behaviors and muscle tone. For more detailed information you can visit
their web site. www6.miami.edu/touch-research
More on the Infant Massage Class
The Infant Massage
class is a very relaxed session that can take from 1 to 2 hours depending
on your baby’s needs. As part of your session you will receive
a massage kit which includes a booklet on the infant massage techniques
that you will learn. You can refer to it whenever you need a refresher.
You will also receive 1 bottle of 100% pure cornstarch and 2 bottles
of massage oil specially blended for use on your baby. One bottle is an
everyday light blend that is easily absorbed and nourishes the skin.
The 2nd bottle is a healing blend for those times when baby may
have dry skin, chaffing or eczema breakouts. You should avoid massaging
your baby with any powder containing talc due to the uncertainty of
its safety. You may also want to avoid oils that contain mineral oil
due to its tendency to clog pores. It is important to remember that
any type of loving and gentle touching, cuddling and/or holding is going
to have a positive effect on your baby.
60-90 Minutes - depending on class size
In-Office or Group $45.00 per family
Private In-Home Visit $65.00 per family